strong man Luk. 11.21 And to a Lyon 1 Pet. 5.8 He is a fierce Adversary therefore he is compared to a roaring Lyon 1 Pet. 5.8 He is a malitious Adversary he goes about seeking whom he may devour 1 Pet. 5.8 He is a subtil Adversary therefore he is called a Serpent yea the old Serpent Rev. 20.2 Yet with all his strength fierceness malice and subtilty he shall not prevail over the Godly Though the Devil be strong yet Christ is stronger Luk. 11.22 Though the Devil be fierce malitious and subtil yet Christ will have a care of those that are his he will keep them that Satan shall not be able to do them hurt Simon Simon said Christ to Peter Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat But I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not Luk. 22.31 32. And so Christ also prayed for all that belong unto him Joh. 17.9 20. Though this old Serpent the Devil bruize the heel of Gods people yet Christ hath bruized and will bruize his head Gen. 3.15 Christ took upon him our nature That through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil Heb. 2.14 He hath vanquished Satan and triumphed over him on the Cross Col. 2.15 Therefore Satan shall not vanquish those that are Christs he shall not triumph over them The Apostle comforts Believers saying The God of peace shall brize Satan under your feet shortly Rom 16.20 The World also is the Adversary of Gods people If ye were of the World said Christ to his Disciples the World would love his own but because ye are not of the World but I have chosen you out of the World therefore doth the World hate you Joh. 15.19 So in his prayer that he made for them to his Father The World hath hated them because they are not of the World as I am not of the World Joh. 17.14 The World is a dangerous enemy sometimes frowning and persecuting sometimes fawning and alluring that if it cannot prevail one way it may prevail another way yet shall it not any way prevail against the true Saints and Servants of God It shall not by troubles and persecutions In the World ye shall have tribulation said our Saviour but be of good comfort I have overcome the World Joh. 16.33 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword As it is written For thy sake we are killed all the day long and counted as sheep for the slaughter Nay in all these things we are more then Conquerors through him that loved us Rom. 8.35 36 37. Neither shall the World prevail over the Godly by flatteries and allurements Christ hath prayed for them that though they be in the World yet they may not be drawn away and overcome with the evil of it I pray not said he that thou shouldest take them out of the World but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil Joh. 17.15 Exceeding great and pretious promises are given unto them that by these they might be partakers of the Divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the World through lust 2 Pet. 1.4 Whosoever is born of God over commeth the World and this is the victory that overcommeth the World even our Faith 1 Joh. 5.4 The Flesh is likewise an adversary to the Godly their carnal and corrupt nature that is still in them For in the best that are upon Earth there is Flesh as well as Spirit corruption as well as Grace For the Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit lusteth against the Flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would Gal. 5.17 This being a Delilah a bosom enemy is therefore the most perillous This is that which brings the Philistines upon Sampson which gives Satan and the World much advantage were we free from our own corruptions we were not in such danger of Satans and the Worlds temptations Yet neither shall this Adversary prevail against the Godly They that are Christs have crucified the Flesh with the affections and lusts Gal. 5.24 Our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin Rom. 6 6. Sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under the Law but under Grace Rom 6.14 I know that in me that is in my Flesh no good dwelleth For the good that I would I do not and the evil that I would not that I do O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me fr m the body of this death I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 7.18 19 24 25. Thus however the Godly are tempted however they are troubled they may have comfort they are built upon a sure foundation and shall stand for ever Some may say It is said of the Beast Object that it was given unto him to make war with the Saints and to overcome them Rev. 13.7 But that is meant of overcomming the body Answ so indeed the Saints may be overcome but not in respect of the soul their Faith and other sanctifying and saving Graces shall not be overcome This is shewed immediately after And all that dwell upon earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the book of life c. Rev. 13.8 Such therefore as belong unto Christ shall not so be overcome as to worship the Beast No it is said of them that they overcame him to wit the Dragon that gave power to the Beast by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death Rev. 12.11 So that the Saints even when they are overcome corporally do overcome spiritually they conquer their conquerours yea Nunquam majere triumpho vicimus quà m cum decem amorum stragilus vinci non potuimus Sulpit. they are more then conquerours through him that loved them Rom. 8.37 But may some say Our Adversaries are mighty Object and we are weak How then shall we be able to stand out against them Hear what the Prophet Elisha said Answ when his servant seeing an Army with Horses and Charets sent to apprehend him cryed out Alas Master what shall we do Fear not said he f r they that are with us are more then they that are with them And the Lord opening the servants eyes he saw the Mountain full of Horses and Charets of fire r und about Elisha 2 King 6.15 16 17. Consider what Christ answered Paul when he prayed thrice that the thorn in the Flesh the messenger of Satan sent to buffet him might depart from him My Grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness 2 Cor. 12 9 And so his Grace is sufficient for all that belong unto him and in their weakness shall his strength be made that is shall
one Commandment in obedience unto God whose Commandment it is will observe all because all are his Commandments and he that sleights one commandment is guilty of all because he doth contemn the authority of him that gave them all Non est erga Deum obedientia ubi non â—st equabile obsequendi studium quod Dei mandato respondeat Adsit ergo equabilitas si velimus ritè obedire Deo Calvin ad Jac 2.10 11. even in those Commandments which he doth observe he hath no respect to the will and authority of him that gave them Therefore as Calvin doth well observe upon the place there is no obedience towards God where there is not an uniform endeavour to please God as well in one thing as in another They that walk would indeed obey God must be uniform in their obedience Object But may some say if saving obedience be universal who then can be saved for whose obedience is such Who doth not fail and come short in doing those things which God requireth Answ True it is but let the sincere servants of God know to their comfort that although they be full of failings and imperfections yet their hearts being bent towards God it being their desire and endeavor to do the will of God entirely as well in one thing as in another God will pardon their failings and pass by their imperfections he will spare them as a man spareth his son that serveth him Mal. 3.17 Though a Father see his Son to fail and come short in that which he enjoyns him to do yet knowing that his desire is to serve and please him he will not be rigid and severe with him but will be indulgent unto him and will spare him and so will God his Children to wit such as are not lying children Isa 30 9. but are children that will not lye Isa 63.8 such children as are sincerely though weakly and imperfectly obedient Let none therefore be dejected because of their wants and weaknesses so that they be sincere and upright The best have had and so will have their faults and failings Noah Let David c. yet God spared them and so he will all those that are sincere as they were But let none catch at this when it doth not belong unto them Thine obedience must in desire and endeavor be universal thou must set thy self to obey in Use 1 all things that are commanded of God Therefore let every one examine himself and try whether his obedience be universal Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness but who may finde a faithful man Prov. 20.6 Jehu boasted saying Come see my zeal 2 King 10.16 Yet Jehu regarded not to walk in the Law of the Lord with all his heart for he turned not from the sinnes of Jeroboam the Son of Nebat that made Israel to sin vers 31. Try therefore whether your obedience be universal 1. Have you a care to obey God as well in the duties of the first Table as of the second Marks whereby to know whether obedience be universal and of the second Table as well as of the first Some observe the one some the other but in not observing both they do indeed observe neither Absalom pretended that he had vowed a Vow and must needs go to Hebron to pay it 2 Sam. 15.7 It was only a pretence but had it been so indeed yet not regarding his duty to David his King and Father his piety towards God could not be right If a man say saith Saint John I love God and hateth his brother he is a lyar for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen And this Commandment have we from him that who loveth God love his brother also 1 Joh. 4.20 21. Now love as Saint Paul saith worketh no evil to his neighbor Rom. 13.10 Yea it worketh good for as he also telleth us Charity is kinde 1 Cor. 13.4 On the other side some are careful to deal justly with men but neglect the duties of Gods immediate worship and service regard not the Word Sacraments and Prayer but the first and great Commandment is this Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy minde This is the first and great Commandment And the second is like unto it Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self Mat. 22.37 38 39. 2. Are you careful to obey God and to do his will in things that are hidden from the eyes of the world as well as in those things which the world doth see and take notice of Hypocrites will perform duties in publike but not in private because they look at men and not at God All their works they do to be seen of men said our Saviour of the Scribes and Pharisees Mat. 23.5 Therefore they would only do things so as that men might see them and take notice of them If they gave Alms they would cause a trumpet to be blown before them if they prayed it should be in the Synagogues and in the corner of the Streets if they fasted they would disfigure their faces that they might appear unto men to fast Mat. 6.2 5 16. 3. Do ye obey in those things which the world sleighteth and it may be hateth and persecuteth This was Noah's commendation that when all flesh corrupted their wayes yet he was found righteous before God Gen. 6.9 12. 7.1 So it was the commendation of Daniel that when the Decree was made that whosoever did make a request to any god but to the King he should be cast into the Den of Lyons yet he would not neglect his duty unto God but prayed and made supplication unto him three times a day as he had done before Dan. 6.7 10. 4. Do ye observe great things as well as small The Scribes and Pharisees were punctual and precise in lesser matters they would pay Tythe of Mint and Annise and Cummin but they omitted the weightier matters of the Law Judgment Mercy and Faith Mat. 23.23 5 Do ye observe small things as well as great Some if they have respect to things of greater concernment think they may take their liberty in lesser matters either to observe them or not as they please But though some things are small in comparison of other things yet nothing is simply and absolutely to be accounted small that God commandeth not so small but that it ought to be observed These things ought ye to have done said Christ to wit the weightier matters of the Law Judgment Mercy and Faith and not to leave the other undone to wit the lesser matters as the tything of Mint and Annise and Cummin Mat. 23.23 See Mat. 5.19 6. Do ye not obey God so as to obey some lust also This is not indeed to obey God at all Ye cannot serve God and Mammon Mat. 6.24 Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Mat.
69.7 They that sit in the gate speak against me and I was the song of the drunkards vers 12. Thou hast known my reproach and my shame and my dishonour mine adversaries are all before thee Reproach hath broken mine heart and I am full of heaviness vers 19 20. Have mercy upon us O Lord saith he speaking both in the behalf of himself and the rest of Gods people have mercy upon us for we are exceedingly filled with contempt Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease and with the contempt of the proud Psal 123.3 4. This also was the complaint of that elect vessel Paul We are made as the filth of the world and are the off-scouring of all things unto this day 1 Cor. 4.13 We were shamefully intreated as ye know at Philippi 1 Thess 2.2 See the storie Act. 16.22 23. And others had triall of cruel mockings and scourgings yea moreover of bonds and imprisonment They were stoned they were sawne asunder were tempted were slaine with the sword they wandred about in sheep-skins and goat-skins being destitute afflicted tormented Of whom the world was not worthy they wandred in deserts and in mountains and in dens and caves of the earth Heb. 11.36 37 38. Such measure even our blessed Saviour himself did finde when he was in the world I am a worm and no man a reproach of men and despised of the people All that see me laugh me to scorn they shoot out the lip they shake the head saying He trusted in the Lord that he would deliver him let him deliver him seeing he delighted or as the margent hath it if he delight in him Psal 22.6 7 8. Thus complained David speaking in the person of Christ So the Prophet Esay prophecied of him saying He is despised and rejected of men a man of sorrowes and acquainted with grief and we hid as it were our faces from him he was despised and we esteemed him not Isai 53.3 Thus the Evangelical history shewes that it fared with him He was called a man gluttonous and a wine-bibber a friend of Publicans and sinners Matt. 11.19 He was termed Beelzebub Matth. 10.25 He was traduced as one that did cast out devils by Beelzebub the prince of devils Matth. 12.24 They did spit in his face and buffered him and others smote him with the palmes of their hands saying Prophecie unto us thou Christ who is he that smote thee Matth. 26.67 68. They preferred Barabbas a murderer before him and put him to a most ignominious death even the death of the crosse mocking and reviling him most despitefully when he was crucified Matth. 27. vers 21 22 23 39 c. If it were thus with the Head no marvel if it be so with the members If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub much more will they call them of his houshold Matth. 10.25 Who some despise the godly Some despise the godly because they are poore and of meane quality in the world A poore wise-man by his wisdome delivered the city but no man remembred that same poore man Eccles 9.15 Though he was wise and had done much by his wisdome yet because he was poore both he and his wisdome was despised Then said I Wisdome is better then strength nevertheless the poore mans wisdome is despised and his words are not heard vers 16. In this respect Christ was despised Many hearing him wâ—re astonished saying From whence hath this man these things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theophyl in Mar. 6. and what wisdome is this which is given unto him that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands Is not this the Carpenter the son of Mary c. Mark 6.2 3. S. James taxeth this fault and bids Have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory with respect of persons For saith he if there come into your assembly a man with a gold ring in goodly apparel and there come in also a poore man in vile raiment And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing and say unto him Sit thou here in a good place and say to the poore Stand thou there or sit here under my foot-shoole Are ye not then partial in your selves and are become judges of evil thoughts Hearken my beloved brethren Hath not God chosen the poore of this world rich in faith and heirs of the kingdome which he hath promised to them that love him But ye have despised the poore James 2.1 2 3 4 5. See 1 Corinth chap 1. vers 26 27 28. Some despise the godly because they are unlearned They are poore sillie creatures say some they cannot a letter on the booke and yet they must be so precise forsooth Thus the Pharisees despised those that followed Christ saying Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees beleeved on him But this people that knoweth not the law are cursed John 7.48 49. Thus the Philosophers at Athens despised Paul calling him a babbler Act. 17.18 But let not the wise-man the wordly wise-man glorie in his wisdome Jer. 9.23 But let him that glorieth glory in this that he understandeth and knoweth me saith the Lord vers 24. Not many wise men after the flesh are called But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise Surgunt indocti rapiunt celum nos cum doctrinis nostris sine corde ecce ubi volutamur in carne sanguine Aug. Confes lib. 8. cap. 8. 1 Corinth 1.26 27. I thank thee O Father Lord of heaven and earth that thou hast hid these things from the wise and hast revealed them unto babes Even so O Father for so it seemed good in thy sight Matth. 11. vers 25 26. But here I must adde a Caution that as none ought to despise the godly though they be not learned Caution so neither is learning it self to be despised This Caution is needful in these times wherein some not a few decry learning as a thing useless and unprofitable yea pernitious and hurtful and do what they can to seeke the extirpation of it And what is this else but to seek the extirpation even of piety it self and religion For though many may and do attaine unto saving knowledge though they are utterly ignorant of the Tongues and of Arts and Sciences yet were this knowledge utterly extinguished without extraordinary inspirations and revelations which some fanatical persons are not afraid to pretend unto what knowledge of the things that concerne salvation could there be Were it not for the knowledge of the Tongues how should we ever come to be acquainted with the Scriptures wherein the mysteries of salvation are contained they being originally written in Greeke and Hebrew which without school-learning none do understand Besides how should the truth of Religion be maintained against learned adversaries without learning And therefore that most subtle enemie of Christians and Christian Religion Julian the Apostate
Favour Much more may God bestow his Gifts and Benefits on whom he pleaseth he being much more free in his dispensations then any man whatsoever To him especially it appertaines to say Is it not lawful for me to do with mine own as I will Mat. 20.15 He is debtor to none further then by his own free purpose and promise he hath made himself a debtor For who hath given unto him first and it shall be recompensed unto him again Rom. 11.35 But God hath determined to bestow Salvation upon men in a judicial way and by way of reward not as a reward merited but as a reward freely bestowed on those that are so qualified as God requires them to be that shall obtain it God will bring every work to judgment Eccles 12.14 He hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness Act 17.31 He will render to every man according to his deeds Rom. 2.6 Knowing that of the Lord yee shall receive the reward of the Inheritance Col. 3.24 Salvation and eternal life is an inheritance as belonging unto children such as are adopted of God in Christ Rom. 8.16 17. And yet it is also a reward as being bestowed on those that work and labour for it though their work and labour is far short of deserving it To him that soweth that is worketh righteousness shall be a sure reward Prov. 11.18 Now here God is cleerly no respecter of persons because he judgeth impartially and distributeth to every one that reward which is agreeable to his work He will render to every man according to his deeds To them who by patient contiouance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality eternal life But to them that are contentious and obey not the truth but obey unrighteousness indignation and wrath Rom. 2.6 7 8. Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap They that sow unto the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption and they that sow unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting Gal. 6.7 8. Thus God without respect of persons judgeth according to every mans work 1 Pet. 1.17 Vse 1 The Use of this point is first to cleer the Justice of God and to free him from all aspersions of iniquity and unjust dealing with men and to shew that if they be damned and perish they have deserved it and may thank themselves for it Is there unrighteousness with God God forbid Rom 9 14. Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance I speak as a man God forbid For then how shall God judge the world Rom. 3.5 6. Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right Gen. 18.25 Far be it from God that he should do wickedness and from the Almighty that he should commit iniquity For the work of a man will he render unto him and cause every man to finde according to his wayes Yea surely God will not do wickedly neither will the Almighty pervert Judgement Job 34.10 11 12. O Israel thou hast destroyed thy self Hos 13.9 See Ezek. 18.2 3 4 5 9 10 25 26 27 28 29 30 God is Just and Righteous in his temporal Judgments Righteous art thou O Lord and just are thy judgements Psal 119.137 Though the righteousness of Gods temporal Judgments be not alwayes so conspicuous and evident because the wicked often prosper and flourish in the world and the godly are afflicted and in distress Whereupon some have broken out into open blasphemie saying Every one that doth evil is good in the sight of the Lord and he delighteth in them or Where is the God of Judgement Mal. 2.17 See also Mal. 3.13 14. And the Saints themselves have been almost non-plust Righteous art thou O Lord when I plead with thee yet let me talk with thee of thy judgements Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously Jer. 12.1 But as for me my feet were almost gone my steps had well-nigh slipt for I was envious at the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked Psal 73.2 3. Gods righteousness is like the mighty mountaines it is firm and unmoveable yet his judgments are a great deep it is not for man to sound them to finde out the reason of them Psal 36.6 The Apostle cries out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgements and his wayes past finding out Rom. 11.33 Thus it is many times in respect of Gods temporal Judgements and his dealings with men here in this world but for that Eternal Judgement as it is called Heb. 6.2 that Judgement to come wherein every one shall receive his eternal sentence the righteousness of that Judgement shall be apparent and manifest unto all Therefore the day of Judgement is called the day of the revelation of the righteous judgement of God Rom. 2.5 because then the righteous judgement of God shall be revealed so that all shall see it Though such as are most wicked do but what God before determined to be done Act. 4.27 28. yet every ones conscience at the last shall witness against him Nihil fit nisi quod Omnipotens fieri velit vel ipso faciendo vel permittendo ut fiat ab aliis Aug. in Enchir. that he shall be forced to know and acknowledge that he is guilty before God and justly condemned by him even as Judas his conscience made him to confess and say I have sinned in betraying innocent blood Matt. 27.4 Thus then they that are saved must thank God for it acknowledging his Free-Grace and undeserved mercy towards them But they that perish must thank themselves for it acknowledging their own evil desert and Gods just judgment Vse 2 Secondly Here is Comfort for such as are poor and of mean repute in the world in that they are nevertheless as capable of bliss and happiness in the world to come as any others The Gospel is preached unto the poor Mat. 11.5 Salvation is as freely offered to the poor as to the rich Let the poor man saith Austine say Dicat pauper Deus meus dicat dives Deus meus Minus ille habet plus hic habet sed argentum non Deum Aug. Deus omnibus aequaliter adest I le apud eum plus habet loci qui plus attulerit non argenti sed fidei Idem My God and let the rich man say My God The poor man hath less and the rich man hath more but it is in respect of silver not of God And again God saith he is equally nigh unto all whether poor or rich he hath more interest in God who doth bring not more silver but more faith with him Hearken my beloved brethren saith St. James hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised unto them that love him Jam. 2.5 God hath chosen the poor as well as others yea
rather then others that so the glory of mans salvation may the better appear to be due not unto man but unto God For you see your calling brethren that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty And base things of the world and things despised and things that are not hath God chosen to bring to nought things that are That no flesh should glory in his presence 1 Cor. 1.26 27 28 29. Vse 3 In the last place Let all be admonished to take heed of coming short of the common Salvation How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation Heb. 2.3 If we have the means whereby to attain unto Salvation and yet neglect them either not use them at all or use them negligently what do we else but neglect salvation and are we not worthy to be without if we do neglect it Men and brethren children of the stock of Abraham said Paul to the Jews and whosoever among you feareth God to you is the word of this Salvation sent Act. 13.26 Then a little after he addes this admonition Beware therefore lest that come upon you which is spoken of in the Prophets Behold ye despisers and wonder and perish for I work a work in your days which you shall in no wise believe though a man declare it unto you vers 40 41. It is true we cannot be qualified and fitted for Salvation except God work this qualification and fitness in us It is he that must make us meete to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1.12 It is he that must work in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure Phil. 2.13 Yet nevertheless we must yea even therefore we must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2.12 God doth work in us so as that through him we must work also Acti agimus being acted by him we act and because of our selves without him we can do nothing therefore it behooves us to take heed both of sloth negligence and carelesness and also of security and presumption and self-confidence and with fear and trembling that is in all humility and with all diligence to work out our salvation 1. Therefore take heed of unbelief Take heed brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God Heb. 3.12 By Christ we come unto God No man cometh to the Father saith he but by me Joh. 14.6 And by faith we come unto Christ to come unto Christ and to believe in him import one and the same thing He that cometh unto me saith Christ shall never hunger and he that believeth in me shall never thirst John 6.35 Therefore we are said to be saved through faith Ephos 2.8 And salvation is called the end of our faith 1 Pet. 1.9 2. Take heed of a false Faith Examine your selves whether you be in the faith prove your own selves 2 Cor. 13.5 See that your Faith be the Faith of Gods Elect Tit. 1.1 that is Faith unfained 1 Tim. 1.5 Faith that worketh through love Gal. 5.6 As many as walk according to this rule peace shall be upon them and mercy c. Gal. 6.16 SERM. XXX SERM. 30 Psal 15.5 He that doth these things shall never be moved HAving done with the Agent He that and the observation arising from thence I come now to the Act doth It is not said He that heareth these things or knoweth these things or professeth these things or assenteth to these things but He that doth these things Hence we may observe Doct. That it is not hearing or knowing or professing of duty or assenting to it but the doing of it that will bring a man unto salvation 1. It is not the hearing that will do it Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it that is observe and obey it Luk. 11.28 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doth them I will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock And the rain descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beat upon that house and it fell not for it was founded upon a rock And every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doth them not shall be likened unto a foolish man which built his house upon the sand And the rain descended and the floods came and the windes blew and beat upon that house and it fell and great was the fall of it Mat. 7.24 52 26 27. But be ye doers of the word and not hearers onely deceiving your own selves For if any man be a hearer of the word and not adoer he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass For he beholdeth himself and goeth his way and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein he being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work this man shall be blessed in his deed Jam. 1.22 23 24 25. Nor will knowledge serve the turn Thou Solomon my son said David unto him know thou the God of thy father and not onely know him but also serve him c. 1 Chro. 28.9 If ye know these things said Christ to his disciples happy are you if yee do them Joh. 13.17 3. Neither is profession sufficient They profess that they know God but in their works they deny him being abominable and disobedient and to every good worke reprobate Tit. 1.16 Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heaven Many will say unto me in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy Name have cast out devils and in thy name done many wonderful works And then will I profess unto them I never knew you depart from me ye that work iniquity Mat. 7.21.22 23. Then shall ye begin to say We have eaten and drunken in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streets But he shall say I tell you I know not whence you are depart from me all ye workers of iniquity Luk. 13.26 27. 4. Nor is it enough to assent unto the truth such a Faith as is not active and operative shewing forth it self by good works is not availiable unto salvation What doth it profit my brethren if a man say he hath faith and have not works can faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that faith to wit which is without works save him Jam. 2.14 Faith if it have not works is dead being alone vers 17. Such a faith is no better then the faith of devils who believe and tremble vers 19. He is a vain man that relies on such a Faith vers 20.